The moment you admit you’re nervous too, the whole room relaxes. Honesty is contagious.

Nerves are almost always shared and almost never mentioned. Everyone in the room is managing the same discomfort privately, each one assuming they are the only one. Saying the true thing out loud breaks that, and the relief lands on everybody else as well. Admitting it costs far less than holding the front.

Next time you walk into something intimidating, say plainly that you are a little nervous. Keep it light rather than turning it into a confession. You will usually find that the person beside you was waiting for permission.